Sutton Council is pushing forward with plans to gain a full three-year injunction across the borough following a spate of incursions this summer.

The temporary powers which are currently in place will expire in November but officers need the go-ahead to pursue the new long-term ban in court.

It comes as figures revealed more than £16,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent clearing fly-tipped waste across the borough over two months.

And now a report released ahead of the environment and neighbourhood committee meeting, scheduled for September 20, urges councillors to give the green light.

READ MORE: Revealed: The cost of clearing fly-tipped waste in Sutton after summer of incursions

Mary Morrissey, the council’s strategic director for environment, housing, and regeneration, said: “The council fears that further unauthorised encampments occupying its land unlawfully and further depositing of waste and/or fly-tipping may occur.

“Local residents and members have been concerned and upset at the lack of access to local open spaces and the disregard for public land and safety that has been demonstrated by those encamping, and the leaving of rubbish, human waste, and fly-tipping.

“The costs to the council dealing with encampments so far in 2018 are estimated at £31,000 of direct costs for bailiffs, security, repairs, and clean-ups.

“This does not take into account the disruptive effect on running other council services while officers react to the need to deal with encampments.”

The value of staff “diverted from other duties” cost Sutton Council an extra £5,500 – bringing the total to £36,500 – although this was already covered in service staff budgets, according to the authority.

Meanwhile, the current injunction in place costs £17,000, accounting for legal costs, and an additional £10,000 will be needed for the three-year ban.

RELATED: Sutton Council obtains injunction to ban encampments across Sutton

But it doesn’t end there as the serving notices which would be placed on each council-owned site will cost an estimated £20,000 in total – excluding schools and Sutton Housing Partnership properties.

Ms Morrissey added the cost of dealing with the more than 120 encampments, or attempts, in Sutton since 2011 has cost taxpayers “well in excess” of £100,000.

It’s recommended the environment and neighbourhood committee agree that officers “compile further evidence” for the full three-year ban in November.

This would be alongside identifying another areas at risk of an incursion.

Meanwhile, the report urges councillors to allow officers to work with legal counsel on the authority’s behalf to seek the injunction at court.